TOP clergy are to consider increasing compensation for survivors of
abuse in Church-run institutions, it emerged yesterday.

Cardinal Sean Brady revealed a committee would look at offering
further redress to victims who suffered under nuns and priests in
industrial schools and orphanages.

The head of the Church in Ireland spoke out after four campaigners
addressed the Bishops' Conference in Maynooth about the Ryan Report
which revealed widespread physical and sexual abuse.

Cardinal Brady said the meeting with survivors was a first step.

He added: "There will be other steps. I think something very
important has taken place.

"We will be setting up a committee as they asked to take
forward this discussion."

Asked if he regretted not having the meeting sooner, Cardinal Brady
replied: "Yes I do of course, but I thank God that it has
happened."

Former Fianna Fail mayor Michael O'Brien, who spent eight
years in St Joseph's School in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, and spoke for
Right To Peace, said discussions with Church hierarchy was a gigantic
step forward.

He added: "This was a chance for us to meet all the bishops at
one time to tell them what we want. We need closure and unless we get
closure this will go on forever."

The four men asked to see the bishops after the clergy announced in
June they wanted to listen to victims.

Mr John Kelly of Survivors Of Child Abuse said moral responsibility
for the behaviour of religious orders rested with the Church.

He added: "Since the Ryan Report we have seen senior members
of the hierarchy demand that the congregations make additional
contributions to the redress sums.

"We have also noted the thundering silence whenever the matter
of a contribution from the hierarchy itself is raised.

"To date the Church has paid absolutely nothing towards the
victims of sexual and other abuses in the Catholic-run
institutions."

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin described the meeting as the
most significant he had ever attended in Maynooth.

He added: "It's been extraordinary. It's so sad that
those things weren't heard and listened to before.

"I hope this is just the beginning and we set up dialogue
between various groups who suffered through abuse by Church
persons."

However, Christine Buckley, who first lifted the lid on
institutional abuse 25 years ago, said she was appalled the women who
started the campaign for justice were kept out of the loop.

The former resident of Goldenbridge Sisters of Mercy convent in
Dublin was later granted a meeting with Archbishop Martin.

Ms Buckley, who works with The Aislinn Centre said: "We have
been at this for almost 25 years to seek justice for fellow survivors.
Money was never the issue with us."